- By Shivangi Sharma
- Mon, 22 Sep 2025 03:59 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
US President Donald Trump administration on Monday will issue medical advisory correlating the use of paracetamol, also called Tylenol in the US, with autism in kids when taken during pregnancy. The move represents a change in how one of the most commonly consumed drugs in the world is perceived and has already provoked fierce arguments among doctors.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is set to release findings suggesting prenatal acetaminophen exposure, Tylenol's active ingredient, will raise the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), reports say. The advisory will allegedly advise against pregnant women using Tylenol, particularly in pregnancy's initial stages, unless for the purpose of treating fever.
This declaration arrives just a day after Donald Trump suggested a breakthrough at conservative activist Charlie Kirk's memorial service. "We have the solution for autism," declared Trump, promising what he termed "the biggest medical announcement" on Monday. His words fueled speculation that the government would officially link Tylenol with autism and also suggest a new drug, labelled a "miracle drug," which might treat ASD.
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Debate Rages Over Tylenol
The advisory is reported to be based on recent research, such as Mount Sinai and Harvard studies, which indicated a potential link between the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and autism. But experts warn there's no causation from correlation. One big Swedish study on more than two million children, issued last year, saw no clear evidence of association.
Major health organisations have already spoken up. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has always stood by the fact that acetaminophen is safe for use during pregnancy when used at recommended levels. They ar that it is still one of the only options available for the relief of pain and fever in pregnant women. The World Health Organisation as well as other global health agencies, have said the same thing.
At the same time, the company that makes Tylenol, Kenvue Inc., is fighting hard against claims by the administration. "Independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen doesn't cause autism," the company stated. Industry analysts say eroding trust in so widely used a medicine could cause confusion and anxiety among expectant mothers, who might develop untreated fever or pain, both of which also threaten maternal and fetal health.